Earn a Master's Degree in Explosives Technology

Missouri S&T’s M.S. degree in explosives technology is unique and offers specialized training in the use of explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics for students without undergraduate education in engineering or physical sciences.

The degree allows such students to advance their careers. Students have exclusive research opportunities in world-class facilities, including the S&T Energetics Research Facility (ERF) and Experimental Mine. 

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Degree Information

Mining and explosives engineering offers a Master's degree with a thesis option in explosives technology for on-campus, research-based students and a non-thesis option by coursework for distance and campus students. The program requires four core courses and relevant elective courses you can select in consultation with your advisor.

For more information, check out the university catalog:

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The M.S. degree with thesis option requires a minimum of 30 credit hours including the required research (Exp Eng 6099) for the thesis. The program also requires students to successfully complete and defend a research thesis. We encourage students to take courses in other disciplines that fit their research and career interests.

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The M.S. degree without thesis requires the completion of 30 hours of graduate coursework. A student replaces the six hours of research with course work, which may include an explosives-related cooperative work experience (EXP ENG 6070) or industry project (EXP ENG 6080) with an established company or government agency that commonly uses explosives, plus an additional explosives course. 

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General Information

The Explosives Engineering program first offered a MS degree in Explosives Engineering in 2010 and a subsequent PhD degree in Explosives Engineering in 2014.  Due to industry demand for an advanced degree for those without an engineering background, a MS degree in Explosives Technology was founded primarily for non-thesis distance students in 2017.  The degree is offered both in-person and via distance education.  There are numerous classes offered in the areas of rock blasting, theory, instrumentation, demolition, pyrotechnics, and other specialty applications.  Hands-on laboratory sessions occur at either the S&T Experimental Mine or Energetics Research Facility. 

Graduates from the program are often employed by industry, government, research facilities, or consulting companies.  Many students are working professionals expanding their knowledge and qualifications to advance in their current careers.   A number of students also enroll who are seeking specialized training to become explosives professionals.  The Safe Explosives Act of 2002 restricts acceptance to US Citizens or Permanent Residents for on-campus studies since handling of explosives is required.  Foreign distance-education students are considered for admission if they are currently employed in the explosives industry and demonstrate the need for explosives education.  A felony background check must be performed on each student.  Additional information on the program can be found at https://mee.mst.edu/. 

Admission Requirements

  • BS or BA
  • 3.0 GPA
  • Transcripts
  • US Citizen or Permanent Resident for on-campus students
  • English proficiency for international distance students

Program Requirements

  • 30 Credit Hours Total
    • Minimum 9 hours at 6000+ level
  • 12 Credit Hours of Core Classes
Core Courses (12 Credit Hours)

Select any four of the following eight courses. 

  • EXP ENG 5612: Principles of Explosives Engineering (LAB 1.0 and LEC 2.0, offered Every Fall Semester)
  • EXP ENG 5622: Blasting Design and Technology (LAB 1.0 and LEC 2.0, offered Every Spring Semester)
  • EXP ENG 5711: Explosives in Industry (3 credit hours, offered Fall Semester-Even Year)
  • EXP ENG 5713: Demolition of Buildings and Structures (LAB 1.0 and LEC 2.0, offered Every Fall Semester)
  • EXP ENG 5721: Specialty Uses of Energetic Materials (3 credit hours, offered Spring Semester-Odd Year)
  • EXP ENG 5914: Explosives Manufacturing (3 credit hours, offered Spring Semester-Even Year)
  • EXP ENG 5922: Advanced Tunneling and Underground Construction (LAB 1.0 and LEC 2.0, offered Spring Semester-Odd Year)
  • EXP ENG 6112: Explosives Regulations (3 credit hours, offered Fall Semester-Even Year) 
List of Elective Courses (18 Credit Hours)

You may take any of the courses below or from the Core Courses requirement.  Up to nine credit hours can be earned outside of the Explosives Engineering program as appropriate and as approved by the student’s advisor.  Other EXP ENG Courses:

  • EXP ENG 5001: Underwater Blasting (3 credit hours, offered Spring Semester-Odd Year)
  • EXP ENG 5112: Explosives Handling and Safety (3 credit hours, offered Every Fall Semester)
  • EXP ENG 5512: Commercial Pyrotechnics Operations (LAB 1.0 and LEC 2.0, offered Every Fall Semester)
  • EXP ENG 5513: Stage Pyrotechnics and Special Effects (LAB 1.0 and LEC 2.0, offered Every Spring Semester)
  • EXP ENG 5514: Display Fireworks Manufacturing (LAB 1.0 and LEC 2.0, offered Every Fall Semester)
  • EXP ENG 5555: Computer Fired Pyrotech Show Design (LAB 1.0 and LEC 2.0, offered Spring Semester-Even Year)
  • EXP ENG 6001: Construction Blasting (3 credit hours, offered Spring Semester-Even Year)
  • EXP ENG 6001: Explosives Simulation (3 credit hours, offered Summer Session-Even Year)
  • EXP ENG 6212: Theory of High Explosives (3 credit hours, offered Spring Semester-Even Year)
  • EXP ENG 6292: Research Methods (3 credit hours, offered Fall Semester-Even Year)
  • EXP ENG 6312: Scientific Instrumentation for Explosives (LAB 1.0 and LEC 2.0, offered Spring Semester-Odd Year)
  • EXP ENG 6412: Environmental Controls for Blasting (LAB 1.0 and LEC 2.0, offered Fall Semester-Odd Year) 
  • EXP ENG 6464: Advanced Vibration Analysis and Prediction (3 credit hours, offered Summer Session-Odd Year)

Course Availability 

A full list of course availability and timing can be found here: https://cec.mst.edu/academics/course-availability/

Please note:  During the semester a student will have completed nine hours of graduate credit, the student must formally plan the remainder of their graduate program in consultation with their academic advisor, and submit a Form 1 for approval, first to the department chair and then to the vice provost of graduate education

 

What Students Say About S&T

Jay Schafler portrait he is smiling and looking towards camera wearing a Saint Louis Blues polo shirt he is up against a blank wall.

The hands-on knowledge and experience in energetics safety, research, manufacturing and application gained at Missouri University of Science and Technology give me a distinct advantage in my career with Northrop Grumman Corp. Within the Launch and Missile Defense Systems group, I lead a multidisciplinary team of engineers and skilled labor to manufacture solid fuel rocket motors for commercial and defense applications. Every day, I use the education and skills learned while earning my master's degree in explosives engineering to keep my team members safe and manage the financial, logistical and technical aspects of producing aerospace-quality energetics products.

— Jay Schafler 

Research in Explosives Technology

The United States recognizes the increasing importance of securing the supply chain for explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics because of their importance to industry and national defense. Explosives engineering faculty and students conduct research related to energetic materials, including explosives hazards and effective manufacture, transport, use and storage of explosives using experimental testing and numerical simulation. This research includes traumatic brain injury, rock blasting, structural response to blasts, effects of explosively formed projectiles (EFPs), shock physics and many other areas.

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Your Career in Explosives Technology

Explosives engineers can choose from a variety of exciting careers, including research and development, testing, safety, production, field technical service, marketing, and teaching.

Explosives engineers work for national laboratories, universities, companies that develop and supply personal protective equipment, defense contractors, blasting & explosives companies, heavy civil construction companies, and many more.

 

Starting Salary

Average entry salary for S&T graduates with an explosives engineering/technology degree is $131,500

 

Career Paths

  •  Researchers (both government and private companies)
  •  Technical services engineers with explosives and blasting companies
  •  Engineers with consulting firms
  •  Law enforcement

 

Explosives Engineers Work With:

  • Universities
  • National Laboratories
  • Law enforcement agencies
  • Consulting companies

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